Certification

Upon the successful completion of the requirements for the B.S. degree, the MLS student is eligible to take the nationally recognized certification examination by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. The certificant is qualified to use the following credentials: MLS (ASCP). Students completing the ULM Medical Laboratory Science program have a 95-100% pass rate on the national certification exam. To be able to work in Louisiana, Medical Laboratory Scientists must also be licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Applications must be secured from the Board and completed before beginning work. Twelve hours of approved continuing education must be completed each year to maintain licensure. Many medical laboratory scientists also enter graduate school to obtain advanced degrees, i.e., M.A., M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., or Ed.D. These individuals are qualified to apply to medical school, dental school, law school, as well as other graduate programs.